"American Nicknames" [published 1955] by George E. Shankle quotes from "Seeing the Middle West," by John T. Faris [published 1923] "Springfield, standing in all of the splendor of a queen amidst its spacious orchards of stately fruit trees, has been fittingly designated the Queen City."

"The Springfield Patriot-Advertiser", 28 December 1876, page 2 reports that "Springfield sits quietly, peacefully, and prosperously on the summit of the Ozarks, as a royal diadem on the brow of a queen.